ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bathing

n. · v.
US //ˈbeɪðɪŋ// UK //bˈeɪðɪŋ// bathing
  1. 1 washing the body (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the act of washing yourself in a bathtub.

    the act of immersing the body in water for the purpose of cleansing.

    Example

    The nurse assisted the elderly patient with his daily bathing.

    Example

    Regular bathing was not merely a matter of hygiene in the Victorian era but often a prescribed medical treatment for various ailments.
  2. 2 swimming for fun (n.)
    B1 Intermediate British English

    swimming or playing in a lake, river, or the sea.

    recreational swimming or immersion in a natural body of water or a public pool.

    Example

    The red flag on the beach means that bathing is dangerous today.

    Example

    The local council prohibited bathing in the reservoir due to the unpredictable currents and the risk of contamination to the water supply.

    Usage

    often used in the compound 'bathing suit' or 'bathing beauty'.

    Teacher's tip

    In modern British English, 'bathing' for swimming is slightly old-fashioned; 'swimming' is much more common today.
  3. 3 washing or covering (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the action of washing someone or something, or covering it in light.

    the present participle of 'bathe', used for the act of washing or the figurative covering of a surface in light or liquid.

    Example

    She was bathing the baby in a small plastic tub on the counter.

    Example

    The setting sun was bathing the entire valley in a warm, golden glow that made the autumn leaves appear to be on fire.
Etymology 1

From Middle English bathynge; equivalent to bathe + -ing.

Etymology 2

From bath.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026